Multicolor-printing press



c..-A.1H|0HARDS AND M. NI." mEsTER. I IVIULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESS. A

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4,1917.

c. mmc'HARDs'AND M. M. mism.

`MULTICQLOR PRINTINIG'PRESS.

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cI.' A. RICHARDS AND MLM. RIESTER;

MuLTlCoLoR PmNTiNG PRESS. `APPLICATION FILED SEPTA', 1911.

. Ptented May 30,1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

c. A. RICHARDS AND M1; M.-n|EsTER.

MuLUcoLoRPmNnNG PRESS. APPLlCATION FILED SEPT-@1917.

1,417,569, mma May 3o, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

0,. A. RICHARDS AND, M. M. RIESTER.

' MULTlcoLoR PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATIUNHLED sEPm, |911.. v

, Patented 'May 30, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET' .n

lllll! i'Il Illlmmumn ummm f g y 'Y i N ummm r I i- |v 5 i ilmll 5v uffi l I 2 l-e-f i i I LJ, @Y z 1 A zA/f5 67 /55 M' /A W/ /izl` 53 c. A. .RICHARDS AND M. M. RIESTER.

MULTICOLOH PRINTING PRESS.v APPLlcArmN FILED SEPITA, 1911.

Patented May 3o, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

C; A. lRICHARDS AND'M. M. RIESTER. MuLTlcoLoR PRINTING PRESS. u APPLICATION FILED'SEPT.4.19|7.'

1,417,569. Patented May30,1922

9 sHEETs-S'HEET z.

C. Al RICHARDS AND M. M. HIESTER.

MuLncoLoR PRINTING PRESS. D APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1uv 1917.

Patented May' 30, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

IIIJMI IHN I Ill Ill.

y wVi-I iili C. A. RICHARDS AND M. `M. RIESTER.

4Mumcoum Pmmmo PRESS. APPLICATION FILE'D SEPT. 4, 19H. v. I

. Patented May 30, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET' 9.v

'CHARLES A RICHARDS', or CHICAGO, `ILLINOIS, AND MAB l NEW Yonx.

MULTIooLoR-PRINrIN PRESS.

Specification of Letters latent. n Patented )lay 30, 1922.

Application led September 4, 1917. Serial No. 189,440.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatwe, CHARLES A. RICH- ARDs and MABEL M. RIEs'rER, citizens of the United States, respectively residing at Chicago, in the county ofl Cook and State of Illinois, and at Buffalo, in the county. of Erie land State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor-PrintingPresses of which the to multi-color i and the like.

vao

Heretofore it has been the usual practice' to produce such sheets by preparing separate, different colored and shaded pieces which are subsequently pasted or otherwise secured to the sheets orto pass the. sheets through the press once for each different color and shade. Attempts have been made to successfully print numbers of different colors and shade simultaneously at one inipression. but such attenips have proven comn'iercially unsuccesslil due to the fact that. in a relatively short time, the colors become mixed and blended and a uniform grade of work is impossible.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved multi-color printing press. y

Another object is to provide a printing press wherein a-large number of different colors and shades can be printed at one impression without danger of confusiony and blending. v

Another object is to provide a press wherein a pluralityof colors may be accurately applied to a sheet at one impression.

Another Objectis to provide a multi-color press having reliable and efficient ink distribution and application.

Another object is to provide amulti-color press wherein the number of different color lmpresslons may be readily varied within the capacity of a particular installation.

Another object is to provide a multi-color press wherein the arrangement of colors may be readily changed to meet the varying demands of service. y l' -Other objects and advantages will inafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention as applied to a flat platen press is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

According to this invention the press has a plurality of sets of ink fountains, each individual fountain being adapted to hold ink of a different color or shade. The printing forms, which produce the desired impresl sions, are arranged in corresponding sets. Between each set of fountains and forms` and individual thereto throughout` is an ink distributing system, comprising rollers which transfer the colored `inks from the fountains to the forms. One group of rollers'of the ink distributing systems is selectively caused to contact with the sets of forms to selectively e, transfer the varicolored inks theieto. Y

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of part of a press with the multicolor attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the laten of the press removed and the chase 1n position and showing the inker rolls inl elevated position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the attachment with parts broken away and parts in section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a corner portion of the attachment with parts broken away.

Fig. 5-1s a detailed view of mechanism for driving the front rolls of the attachment and including a shoe device for holding a chain in proper contact with sprocket wheels carried by the shafts of the front rolls.

F ig. 6 is a rear elevation of a corner por- EL M. mesma, or BUFFALO,

herev the frame 1 in the usual manner.

tion of the attachment with parts removed and parts broken away.

Fig. 7 is a detailed longitudinal sectional View of a vibrator roll used in the attachment.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of part of the roll frame of the attachment.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of part of the ductor roll frame of the attachment.

Fig. 1() is a side elevation of part of the fountain supporting frame of the attachment. f

Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view of a section of one of the follower tracks used in conjunction with the attachment. y

Fig. 12 is a detailed perspective view of one of the roll bridges used in conjunction with the attachment.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of one of the follow tracks used upon the attachment.

Fig. 14 is an edgeelevation ofthe track shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a detailed `vertical sec-tional view of the attachment taken on the line 15-15 of Fig.

Fig. 16 is a similar View taken on vthe line16--16 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 17 is a. similar view taken on the line 17-17 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 18 is a similar view taken on the 18-18 of Fig. 3. p

Fig. 19 is a similar view taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 20 is a similar view taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 3.

In all the views the same reference characters are used to indicate similar part-s.

Part of the frame of the press is shown at 1 in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the said frame is provided at its forward portion with ,guides 2 which serve as means for guiding the form roller carriage 3 along The carriage 3 is moved by arms 4 which are operatively connected with the said carriage by means of links 5. The arms 4 and their attachments are operated in the usual manner. A bull gear wheel 6 is ournaled for rotation at the `side of the frame 1 and is provided at its side with an eccentric 7. A platen 8 is movabl mounted upon the frame 1 of the press andy arms 9 are p'ivotally connected with the said platen and pivotally connected with the bull gear wheel 6 at a point to one side of the axis of the said wheel. The wheel 6 is rotated in any usual manner consequently the arms 9 are moved longitudinally and the platen 8 is moved toward and away from the chase 10 (see Figure 2) which is supported in the usual manner upon the frame 1 of thel press.

A fountain frame 11 is mounted upon the frame 1 and supports brackets 12 which extend from side to side of the said frame (as most clearly shown in Fig. 15 of the drawline ing.) The said brackets are arranged one fountains 13. The fountains' on each bracket4 form a transverse s et or row and are spaced from each other so that the said fountains on the several brackets are arranged in vertical or longitudinal rows or sets (as shown in Fig. 15). Each fountain 13 is provided at its bottom with an inclined plate 14 which is secured at its upper edge portion and free at its lower edge portion as most clearly lindicated at the intermediate portion of Fig. 3. Screws 15 are threaded in the bottom portions of the fountains 13 and bear at their ends against the under sides of the plate 14 and may be used for varying the angle'of inclination of the plates 14. Bearings 16 are .provided at the sides ofthe frame 11 and shafts 17 are journaled in-the said bearings.

The shafts 17 correspond in number with the brackets 12 and'the said shafts are disposedI opposite the said brackets and the fountains 13 carried thereby. Fountain rollers or sections 18 are mounted upon the shafts 17 and enter the adjacent portions of the fountains 13v and form side walls for the .said fountains. There is a fountain roller section 18 for each fountain 13 and all of the roller sections upon the same shaft 17 constitutes what is hereinafter referred to as a fountain roller set. The screws 15 force the lower free edges 0f the plates 14 into close engagement with the roller sections 18. Each individual fountain 13 is Lintended to cont-ain an ink of distinctive color or shade and inasmuch as the roller sections 18 form sides of the said fountains this ink adheres to the peripheries 0f the corresponding roller sections and is -withdrawn from the fountains as the fountain rollers are rotated as hereinafter described. Handles 19 are fixed to the ends of the shafts 17 and may be used when it is'desired to rotate the said shaft manually forthe purpose of spreading the ink upon the peripheries of the roller sections 18 and for trituating or working the ink between the edges of the plates 14 and' the peripheries of the said roller sections. Ratchet wheels 20 are fixed to the shafts 17 and arms 21 are loosely` mounted upon the said shafts. Pawls 22 are pivotally mounted upon the arms 21 and are provided with weighted end portions 23 which serve. by

effect of gravity, tov hold the pawls 22 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 20. All of the arms 21 are pivotally connected with a bar 24 which extends transversely across the shafts 17. The bar 24 is pivotally connected at its lower end with an arm 25 mounted upon a sleeve 26. The sleeve 2G is mounted upon a cross bar or shaft 27. best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. An arm 28 is fixed to the sleeve v26 and carries Aat its lower end a wheel 29 and fall.

v which travels upon the periphery of the cam direction the'pawls 22 engage the ,teeth of ratchet wheels are p carry around with t em the shafts 17 1 the ratchet lwheels' 20 and upon further downward movement of thesaid bar 24 the artially rotated and Therefore it will be seen that mechanical means is provided for imparting step by step rotary movement to the fountain roller sections 18 mounted upon the said vshafts 17.

`A roll frame is located at the upper ends 'of' the guides 2 and is connected with the frame 11 by means of cross bars 31'. A rod 32 extends acrossthe upper portion of the frame 30. Links 33 are pivotally mounted at their-upper ends upon the end portions of the rod 32 and a ductor frame 34 is pivotally connected with the lower ends of the links 33. Arms are connected at their upper ends with the lower portion of the ductor frame 34 andthe cross rod 27 passes through the lower portions of the arms 35. The arm 35 at one side of the press is Vprovided with spaced lugs 36 to -receive f between them a. portion of the arm 25 as most clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe ,drawing. A screw 37 passesthrough one. ofthe lugs 36 and bears at one end againstthe end portion of the arm 25 which is'located between the said lugs 36 and serves as means for adjusting the ann 25 with relation to the arm 35 to regulate the throwy of arm 35 an'd consequently the movement of the duc tor frame. Thesides of theductor framel 34 are vertically slotted as at 38 and blocks 39 are received inthe lsaid slots.,` Screws 40v pass through plates 41 mounted at the' upper ends of the slots 38 and the said screws bear at their lower ends against the upperends i of the uppermost blocks 39 and serve to hold thel blocks in position inthe slots 38 at the sides of the said ductor frame 34. Each of.

the blocks 39 is provided with an 'elongated opening'42, the long dimensions -'of the said openingsbeing vertically disposed.- Bearings 43 are located in the openin s 42 and screws 44 engagethe opposite si es of the said bearings and also engage the end portions of the blocks, 39. Therefore it will be seen that by adjusting the screws'44the bearings 43 may be shifted along the .open-Av Shaftsv v45y 'aire ings 42 in the .blocks 39. loosely journaled in the bearings 43 and each carries a set' of ductor roller sections 46 which correspond in number with the corresponding set of fountain roller sections 18. Each of thefountain roller sections .18

has its counterpart or corresponding roller section in one of the ductor roller sections 46 andwhen the ductor fra-me 34 is moved towards the fountain rollers by the action of the arms 35, as hereinbefore described, A

each set of the ductor roller sections 46 cncounters the periphery vof its corres onding set of fountain roller section 18. T erefore as the fountain roller sets have been turned slightly during the rise of the ductor frame, a freshly inked surface is presented by each individual fountain roller to the corresponding ductor roller section.

The rod 32, hereinbefore referred to, isV

pivoted in the upper portion of the frame 30 and the upper ends of the links -33 are fized to the said rod 32. As shown, in Fig. 6 of the drawing, a spring 47 is connected at one end with the upper portion of the frame 3Q and the other end of the said spring is connecte-d with a collar 48 mounted' upon the rod 32. The spring 47 is coiled abouti the rodp32`between the collar 48 and the point of connection with the frame 30. The said spring, 47, is under tension with a tendency to counteract the weight of the ductor frame 34 and its attachments ,carried at the lower ends of the links 33. Therefore the parts are balanced or substantially balanced upon the rod 32 and excessive lifting forceV is not rrequired to move the ductor frame 34 to carry the ductor rollers into engageme-nt with the peripheries of theL founl tain rollers. By providing the adjusting .screws 44 for the bearings'43 the 'shafts 45 of the ductor roller sections 46j may be positioned at proper distances apart in order to properly engage the-peripheries of their respectivel and corresponding` fountain roller. v

sections 18. y l

l The sides of the frame 30'are slotted vas at the said slots as most clearly shown in Fig. 3

L .49 (Fig. 8) `and blocks 50 are arranged in u of the drawing. Shafts 5l arefixed at their f ends inj'the blocks 50 andI the said vshafts 51 are provided atv points between' tlfieirgends.

with spiral'grooves 52 as shown in"Fig.7. Sleeves 53 are rotatably mounted upon the shafts 5,1 and carry pms '54 having journaled friction rollers 55 which enter the grooves 52. Eachof the sleeves 53 is surrounded by v agcoating 56 of any -suitable composition usually'employed for forming inking rolls. The'coatings 56 are providedlwith peripheral rdepressions v57 which divide44 the said coatings into sections eorrespondinginmumber with the sections'46of the ductor -rollers and the sections 18 vof the fountain rollers. The sleeves 53, and theparts mounted thereonconstitute what arehereina'fter referred to as the vibrator rollers. When the ductor frame 34 is. in* its lowermost position, as shown. in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, the peripherles of the ductor rollers encounter the 'peripheries of the vibrator rollers and inasrollers 55 moving along the spiral grooves4 52 cause the said sleeves 53 to move longitudinally along the shafts 51 and axially Shift the rollers 56, and hence these rollers are termed the vibrator rollers. The ink,

which the ductor roller sections receive fromI the fountain roller sections 18, is transmitted tothe vlbrator roller sections when the said ductor roller sectlons encounter the said .vi-

brator rollers. The sections of the vibrator rollers are slightly longer'than the 'sections 46 of the ductor rollers. consequently the roller sections 46, along their entire length, encounter the sections of the vibrator rollers, notwithstanding the fact that the said vibrator rollers reciprocate While they are inv contact with the said ductor roller sections.

The blocks 5() are arranged in stacks in the slots 49 and engage each other at their ends, as shown in Fig. 3. Plates 58 are secured to the sides of the upper portion of theframe 30 and receive the end portions of theuppermost shaft 51 and thereby serve as means for holding the blocks in proper position` inthe slots 49. The peripheries o f the vi-` brator rollers are spaced from each other as yindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Guides 59 extend verticallyalong the frame 30 and are disposed inwardly from the inner surfaces of the side thereof, (Fig. 19). -Shafts 60 bear at their ends against the .said guides 59 but are free to Imove vertically along the` s aid guides. Roller sections 61 are mounted` upon theg'shafts 60 and rest upon the sectionsofthe vibrator rollers and correspond innumber `with the sections of the vibrator rollers and sections .of the `ductor rollers and fountain rollers. The

roller sections' 61l upon the same shaft are spaced from eachother and the said rollerV sections constituteI what 1 is hereinafter termed the :distance rollers. The distance rollers correspond in number with the vibrator rollers, ductorx rollers and fountain rollers.Av Consequently each distance roller section has its corresponding section inthe 'other mentioned rollers.

Shafts 62 are journaled in theframe 30 and are .provided with roller .sections 63 spaced from each other `upon the same shaft and which correspond in number with the sections of the 'distancerollers The roller sections 63 upon the shafts 62 constitute what is hereinafter referred to as the front y lvibrator rollers'.

rollers and the front roller sections partially support the distance rollers inasmuch as the forward portions of the distance roller sections bear upon the peripheries of thefront roller sections. Sprocket wheels 64 are mounted upon the front roller shafts 62 in a vertical line and the said wheels are spaced from each other fora distance sufficient to permit the teeth of the adjacent wheels to escape each other. A shaft 65 is journaled for rotation at one sid'eof the frame 1 and carries a gear wheel 66.which'meshes with the gear wheel 6 hereinbefore described. The said shaft is also provided with la sprocket wheel v67 which is located at the inner side of the frame 30. A sprocket wheel 68.is journaled for free rotation at the upper portion of the same y.side of the frame 30 adjacent which the sprocket wheel 67 is located and a sprocket Achain 69 is trained around the sprocketwheels 67 and 68. The links of the chain 69 at the forward flight thereof engage the' teeth of' the sprocket Wheels 64 mounted upon the shafts 62V and consequently as the wheel 6 rotates the wheel 66 is rotated and through the shafts 65 and sprocket Vwheels 67. mounted thereon the chain 69 is moved longitudinally and rotary movement is transmitted to the front'rollers which carry the sections 63. 1A shoe 70 is adjustably mounted at the side of the frame 30 and bears against the inner surface of the forward flight of the chain/69, asbest shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, and serves as-'means for holding the forward' flight of the chain in engagement With the teeth of the sprocket wheels 64. Consequently when the press is tance 'roller sections 617.*the said distance -roller sectionsare rotated ,and this rotary movement isv transmitted from the distance rollers to the vibrator roller 56 which in turn v'rotates the ductorfrollers 46 when the said ductor rollers are incontact' with the The ink with which'the ductor rollers 46 have been supplied,v is transmitted tothe vibrator roller sections 56, and from-the said vibrator roller sections 61 and from thence to the front roller sections 63.

I Shafts 71 (Fig. 2) are journaled for rotation in blocks 7 2,"whic'h are movably mounted upon Vthe carriage 3` in the 'usual manner. The shafts`71 are provided with inking or form roller sections 73 which correspond in number with the-Sections 63 of the fron-t rollers. The inkingrroller sections 73'upon the same shaft are spaced fromjeach other and the form roller sections 73 on the adjacent shafts 71 are also spaced vfrom each4 other suitable material. The disks 74 are in vertical alinementwith relation to each other.

Other disks 75 of similar character are also mounted upon the shafts 71 but the d1sks.7 5 are off-set or out of alinement vertically with y relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

Upper follow tracks 76 are mounted upon the frame 30 and along which the disks 75 may move. The said upper follow tracks 76 have inclined ways, as best shown in Fig. 14 of the drawing. and when the disks 75 move down the inclination of the said ways the form roller sections 7 3 are brought into contact with the peripheries of the front roller sections 63. Inasmuch as the said front roller sections 63 are supplied with ink and are maintained in a state of rotation this ink is transferred to the peripheries of the form roller sections 73.

Roller elevating cams 77 are mounted at the edges of the guides 2 at the upper edge of the chase 10 and the disks 74 are adapted to travel over these elevating cams and consequently the form roller sections 78 are lifted over .or clear the upper edge of the chase l0 as the shafts 7l move down along the chase. Roller elevating cams 78 are located at' the lower portions of the guides 2 and the lowermost disks 74 may run along the said cams 78 and lift the form roller sections 73 over'the lower edge of the chase when the said roller sections override the lower edge of the chase.

Plates 7 9 are secured in any suitable manner in the side portions of the chase 1() and selecting cam track sections S() are mounted upon the plates 79. Select-ing cam track sec` tions 80- are in alinement with the disks 7 5 of the corresponding set of form rollers and the said disks 75 are adapted to move along the same. Each cam track shown in the drawing consists of two cam track sections the inner ends of which are spaced from each other as best shown, in Figure 2 of the drawing. The sections of the cam tracks 8O are adjustably mounted upon the plates 79 whereby the distance or space between the inner ends of the sections may be adjusted Y as deslred.

Blocks or forms 81 are secured in the chase 1() and constitute the impression forms. The said blocks 81 correspond in number with the inking fountainsl and are arranged in similar transverse and longitudinal rows. Blocks S1 are so positioned with relation to the spaces between the inner ends of cam tracks S() that when the disks 7 5 enter the said spaces the peripheries of the form rollersections 73 come in contact with the faces of the blocks 81. That is to say the parts are so arranged that each form roller section 7 3 comes in contact with its respective block S1 and therefore the ink which is carried by the said roller is transferred to the block and all of the blocks in a transverseI row or set are simultaneously supplied with ink. After the blocks have been supplied with ink the carriage moves in an upward ldirection and the paper or sheet is placed upon the platen 8 .and the platen moves toward the form and an impression from the blocks is made upon the sheet.

Therefore it will be seen that ink-of different colors and shades is transferred from the respective fountaincontaining each different color and .shade to a certain block and an impression upon a sheet of paper, or other material, is had from all of the blocks simultaneously whereby the different-colors and shades are applied to the sheet.

For purposes of illustration a combination of colors which may be obtained by the press on one impression of the platen is indicated on Fig. 2 and the corresponding arrangement ofthe colors of ink in the various fountains is shown in Fig. 15. It is to be understood however that the color arrangement shown is merely for the purpose of illustration and that any desired numbers, arrangements and combinationof colors may be produced Within the capacity of the press, and that the capacity of a press may be varied by increasing or decreasing the active or actua-l number of fountains, forms and rollers.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of sets of ink fountains each set containing a plurality of individual fountains, a plurality of sets of printing forms corresponding to the number and arrangement of fountains, an ink distributing system individual to eachlset of fountains, and

,. selecting means for selectively causing the transfer of ink from said systems to said forms. p

2. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of ink fountains arranged in multi-fountain sets, a plurality'of printing forms corresponding in number and arrangement to the fountains, a set of form rollers for each set of fountains to transfer ink to the forms, selecting means to selectively bring sets of form rollers into engagement with corresponding sets of forms, and sets -of ink distributing rollersinter.- posed between the fountains and form rollers, each set of distributing rollers transferring only the color of a correspondingl set of fountains.

3. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of sets of stationary ink fountains, each set containing a plurality of individual fountains, a plurality-of sets of printing forms corresponding in arrangement and number to the fountains, sets of form rollers corresponding to the number of sets of fountains and acting to transfer ink to the forms. a set of individual ink distributing tains and a corresponding set of form rollers and acting to convey inks only between corresponding sets of fountains and form rollers, and selecting means for selectively operatively associating sets of form rollers with corresponding sets of forms and fountains.

4. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of individual printing forms arranged in sets, a plurality of stationary ink fountains arranged in corresponding sets, a set of ink conveying rollers for each set of fountains and-conveying only the inks of a corresponding set, a form roller for each set of fountains, a reciprocating carriage for carrying the form rollers alternately into operative relation relative to the forms and the ink conveying rollers, and means for selectively causing the engagement of form rollers with corresponding sets of forms and ink conveying rollers.

5. A multi-color printing press having a lurality of sets of stationary vari-colored ink fountains, a plurality of individual forms arranged in corresponding sets, a set of ink conveying rollers for each set of fountains, each set of, said rollers conveying only one color of ink circumferentially, aform roller for each set of fountains and carrying ink to the forms, and selecting means for selectively associating the form rollers, with corresponding sets of forms and ink conveying rollers.

6. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of sets of stationary vari-colored ink fountains, a plurality of individual forms arranged in corresponding sets, and a series of rollers individual to each set of fountains, and corresponding forms and selectively conveying ink from certain sets. of fountains to corresponding sets of forms, no rollers of a set conveying inks of another set. i

7. A multi-color printing press having a plurality 'of sets of -stationary ink fountains, printing formscorresponding in numbenand sets to the fountains, a series of rollers for each set of fountains and carrying only the inks from the corresponding set of fountains, and means to selectively apply the inks from each series of rollers to corresponding sets of forms.

8. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of sets of ink fountains, a series of inkconveying rollers individual throughout to each set of fountains, -a plurality of individual forms arranged in sets corresponding in number and arrangement to the fountains, a form roller for veach set of foun tains, and means for selectively bringing into ink transferring condition form rollers and^correspon`ding sets of forms and ink conveying rollers.

9. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of sets of ink fountains each set `containing a plurality of individual fountains, a plurality of sets of printing forms corresponding in number and arrangement to the fountains, a form roller for each set of fountains and acting to apply ink to the corresponding set of forms, selecting means including cam tracks individual to each set of fountains and acting to cause the engagement of a form roller and its corresponding set of forms, and a vset of intermediate 'rollers' individual to each set of fountains` and acting to convey inks from a set of fountains to a corresponding form roller.

l0. A multi-color printing press Ahaving a plurality of `individual printing forms ari inged in sets, a plurality of individually adjustable ink fountains arranged in sets corresponding to the form sets, a series of intermediate ink conveyingrollers individual to each set of fountains, a form roller individual to each set of fountains and adapted to receive inks from the correspond- 4ing series of intermediate rollers and apply the same to the corresponding sets of forms, means for causing the form rollers and forms to pass by each other, and selecting means for causing each form roller to apply ink to its corresponding set f forms and not to apply ink to the other sets of forms.

11i. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of individual ink fountains 95 arranged in sets of vseveral fountains each, a fountain roller for each set of fountains, a reciprocating ductor frame for moving toward and from the: fountain rollers, a plurality of ductor rollers carried by the ductor 100 frame one for each fountain roller and contacting the same when the ductor frame is moved toward the fountain rollers, a plurality of form rollers one for each ductor roller, a series of rollers individual to and `105 between each ductor roller, a series' of rollers individual to and between each ductor roller and form roller to transfer the inks therebetween, al plurality of printing forms arranged in sets corresponding in number and arangement to the fountains, means to cause relative movement between the forms and form rollers, and a series of .selective cams for selectively causing contact between form rollers and corresponding sets of forms and preventing contactbetween they form rollers and other sets of forms.

12. A multi-color printing press having a vtype frame for holding a chase on which type frame for holding a chase on which prmting forms may be arranged 1n sets of several forms each, an ink fountain for each form and adjustable to form corresponding sets, a series of ink distributing rollers individual to each set of fountains and con- Veying only inks from a corresponding set to the forms, and selecting means including elements selectively set in the chase and acting to selectively cause the transfer of ink from each series of ink distributing rollers to the corresponding set of forms.

14. A multi-color printing press having a plurality of ink fountains adjustable for arrangement in sets of several fountains each, a type frame for holding a chase on which printing forms may be arranged in sets corresponding to the sets of fountains, cam tracks carried by the chase and arranged to correspond to the forms tl1erein,-a num'- ber of series of ink distributing rollers each series being individual to a set of fountains and corresponding forms, and means eooperating with the rollers and cam tracks for causing the selective inking of sets of forms by inks from the corresponding sets of fountains.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set ou hands. e u

CHARLES A. RICHARDS.. MABEL M. RIEsTER. 

